Palermo beat Napoli 2-1 on Sunday evening at the Renzo Barbera Stadium in Palermo. All the goals were scored in the 1st 43 minutes, and my Napoli team was asleep for the 1st 15 minutes of the game, and it cost them 2 goals. the 1st goal in the 2nd minute off a corner kick by Fabrizio Miccoli, was scored by (here we go again) Neapolitan born Giulio Migliaccio his 1st of the campaign. and in the 14th minute another Palermo goal, this by Simplicio on an assist from Miccoli, who was the best player on  the pitch.

Napoli answered back on a pretty goal by Marek Hamsik his 9th of the season, in the 43rd minute on an assist from German Denis.

Napoli attempted to tie the game all through the 2nd half, but only had one real chance By Ezequiel Lavezzi, in the 73rd minute which Marco Amelia made a good save on.

I know that this will sound like a broken record, but, I again blame this loss (Napoli's 7th consecutive defeat away from home,and 4th out of  5 overall) on Coach Reja.

He had the wrong players in the wrong positions. Example Salvatore Aronica who is a right-defender was playing on the left side and not by coincidence was beaten by the Palermo players on not 1 but both goals.

2 why is Mateo Contini even in the squad, He makes me wish for Savini back from Palermo.

Also, Christian Maggio was out of position again.

Let me say this, I would fire Reja immediately, and bring in Roberto Mancini, before Chelsea, who just sacked Scolari, decide to grab him.

I will tell you this, if Napoli do not win their next 2 games, both at home, against Bologna and Genoa, to reach 40 points. before they return to Torino. REJA WILL BE SACKED I GUARENTEE IT. if they dont beat Bologna Saturday evening, He'll be sent packing back to Gorizia. Let's enjoy Italy-Brazil today (Tuesday) from London.

Also tommorow France-Argentina in Marsailles.

Marcelo Lippi goes for the all time record by an Italian Manager of 32 consecutive games without a loss on the Azzurri Bench, which would surpass 2-time World Cup winning Manager Vitorio Pozzo who had gone 31 matches without a defeat in the 1930's.

Buona Fortuna Marcelo. (good luck)

Forza Futbol 

Forza Futbol’s Mando talks to Andy Mitten author of Mad For It. Get the whole episode here, direct download here or subscribe in iTunes.

This week on Forza Futbol Mando and Hannah go over the weekends action from La Liga and Serie A. We also talk transfers as the window is now shut. Raul scored his 307th goal for Real Madrid and is now tied with Di Stefano. Messi scored Barcelona's 5000th goal in La Liga and Mutu scored his 100th goal in Serie A. Get the whole episode here, direct download here or subscribe in iTunes.

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Match Day 22: Juventus Lose Second To Cagliari

1/31/09 by: Special K 

Oh dear Juventus is faltering. The Bianconeri squandered all the good results they have achieved during the month of January after closing the gap between themselves and Inter to 3 points. Today's disappointing 2-3 result to Cagliari on home turf is the second loss for Juventus striker Del Piero (pictured/Reuters) and company while front runners Internazionale have righted their ship, winning the last two against Catania and Sampdoria. Tomorrow the Milan club plays lowly Torino who are currently in a tailspin and should have no problem in stretching their lead to 9 points. Torino having not won in the last 4 Serie A outings must look as far back as December 21, and their home defeat of Napoli for any consolation.

Note: Cagliari (away record, 3-2-6) have now won 2 on the road beating Lazio last week at the Stadio Olimpico 4-1, prior to that win the club had only one additional victory away from home at Torino back in October.

Juventus vs Cagliari Highlights

In other news stunned Napoli gave up a 2-0 lead after home sons Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella helped to equalize for the visitors giving Udinese the 2-2 draw. (Both players come from the Naple region)

The San Paolo hosted a great game on Saturday evening, Napoli was punished by two Neapolitan players who play for Udinese, Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella.

Napoli took a 2-0 lead in the first 27 minutes of the game on goals by Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik. Hamsik returned after missing two games because of the suspension he received after his red card in Verona.

In the 24th minute , German Denis took the ball at the midfield circle and carried it to kist outside the Udinese penalty area before passing to Lavezzi who whistled a shot past Andonovich 1-0 Napoli.

Just three minutes later Hamsik put a header past  Andonovich  off a free kick from Walter Gargano 2-0 Napoli.

But Udinese would answer when in the 31st minute, Paolo Cannavaro chased a ball in the Napoli area, but in the process tripped Isla, Gervasoni gave the penalty, Di Natale converted, 2-1.

In the 38th minute Lavezzi was tripped in the area by Isla but Gervasoni did not give the penalty, instead giving Napoli a corner kick.

Then in the 45th minute Fabio Quagliarella scored what I consider the prettiest goal of the Serie A season so far. On a pass by Isla he turned and shot from just outside the box, beating Navarro 2-2.

Watch Quagliarella's goal

The second half Napoli attacked consistently, Lavezzi had 2 chances Zalayeta one and Hasek another but nothing.

In the 90th minute Udinese almost stole the game on a shot by Giovanni Pasquale that went just past the post.

This week’s episode of Forza Futbol we talk about last weeks action. We also bring you an interview with Tim Vickery. Get the whole episode here, direct download here or subscribe in iTunes.

This week on Forza Futbol Mando and Hannah are joined by Gene and Kevin in a Serie A Round Table. Together we discuss what is going on in the world of Serie A. Get the whole episode here.

This week we discuss Gilardino’s handball goal, Ramos upset at Madrid, a Atlético Madrid - Villarreal goal fest and Beckham to Milan rumors. As well as FIFPro Team of the year, Champions League and UEFA Cup. That and much more on this weeks episode of Forza Futbol.